At the March meeting, the Waightstill Avery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Eugene Rogers Baker for his outstanding volunteer service to Brevard and Transylvania County. Many of his contributions were related to the Transylvania County Historical Society. The Friends of Silvermont are especially proud of his contributions to Silvermont.
[From March 30, 2017 Transylvania Times…]
“The Silvermont Centennial Committee was formed in 2013 to restore the mansion to a vibrant community center and historic landmark. Baker was treasurer of that group.
Restoration of the windows was deemed to be the most pressing need, and Baker worked diligently to help raise funds towards this goal. Through the sponsorship of the Waightstill Avery Chapter NSDAR and with support from the Transylvania County Commissioners and the County Historical Society, the Silvermont Centennial Committee was awarded an NSDAR grant for $10,000 to apply toward repair and restoration of the 75 solid oak windows. This phase, as well as the replacement of the front porch, has been completed.
In keeping with the Silvermont Committee’s goal of developing a vibrant community center, the Bakers chose to donate funds for the planning and construction of a half-mile American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) certified loop trail around the eight acres of Silvermont. In conjunction with this, the Bakers also donated the funds to provide a resilient rubberized surface for an ADA toddler playground on the site.
Transylvania County has, indeed, been enriched by the service and commitment of Gene Baker. He has made us more aware of our heritage and, with this, has made our community a better place to live.”
